Fourths to



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Rm n B m A m J.

(No Model.)

No. 484,038. Patented Oct. 11, 1892.

Gite twa (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. R. MORGAN. CHAIN BLOCK.

No. 484,038. Patented Oct. 11', 1892.

m lilIl-v mm 75519120., mam-mam, wAsnmumu u c UNITED STATES PATENTOFFIcE.

JOHN R. MORGAN, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO THOMASR. MORGAN, SR, MORGAN, OF SAME PLACE.

THOMAS R. MORGAN, JR., AND WILLIAM H.

CHAIN-B LOC K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,038, dated October11, 1892. Application filed June 29, 1891. Serial No. 397,947. Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern: moved up to and in contact with, ifnecessary,

Be it known that I, JOHN R. MORGAN, of Althe upper block. F a.

liance, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Chain -'Blocks; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same. to My invention relates to animprovement in chain-blocks designed more particularlyfor use onoverhead traveling cranes. In traveling cranes and, in fact, allhoisting machinery designed for lifting heavy weights 5 an upper blockswiveled to the crane or derrick or other support and a lower movableblock carried by the hoisting-chains are em-' ployed. The number ofsheaves ineach block varies according to the weights to be 2o lifted;but in any event each block carries a series of sheaves on immovablebearings. In traveling cranes each end of the chain is made fast to awinding-drum and then passes downwardly to the outer sheaves on thelower block, then over the outer sheaves of the upper block, and thenceover the intermediate sheaves in the same order. Of course it isunderstood that the chain must be rove through the sheaves before it ismade fast. 0 There is one more sheave on the lower block than on theupper, and when the blocks are rove, as stated, the sheaves on the upperblock rest in planes passing between the sheaves on'the lower blocks.Thus it will be seen that the chains necessarily cross or pass at anangle from the sheaves on the upper block to the sheaves on the lowerblock, and as the angle increases as the blocks ap proach each other andas the sheaves are 40 necessarily widely separated it follows that asthe blocks approach each other there is-a tendency of the chains to rideout of the grooves in the sheaves, which greatly increases the frictionand absolutely prevents the lower block from being raised to the upperblock.

The object of thepresent invention is to provide means for maintainingthe chains vertical, thereby avoiding all increase in friction andpermitting the lower block to be the hubs h of the shanks 2'.

With this object in view my invention consists in the parts andcombinations of parts, as will be more fully described, and pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in end elevation of thetwo blocks with the chains therein. Fig. 2 is a view in front elevationof same, and Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the old form of block.

A represents the upper block, and B the lower block. vThe upper blockconsists of a head C, composed of two parts a b, securely boltedtogether at their ends and at points :between the sheave shanks orspindles. The

head thus formed is provided centrally with a stem or pivot D, clearlyshown in Fig. 1,

which latter is provided with anenlarged head 0, which rests on the seatd, carried on and supported by the girders E. The sheaves e, e, 6 and eare supported on bearings secured to the lower ends of hangers f, whichlatter are supported on and secured at their upper ends to pivots g,which pass through The shanks 1 of the spindlessupportin sheaves e, e, 6and e are each provided with an enlarged head, which rest on seatsformed on the two sections a b of the head C. The central sheave e issupported on hangers f, similar to the hangers supporting the othersheaves; but the hangers, instead of being secured to a swiveled supportor spindle, are in the present instance secured to a projection irigidly secured to the head. It is evident, however, that this centralsheave can be mounted on a movable or adjustable spindle, like theothers, or all of the spindles or supports might be rigid, the sheaves,however, occupying positions substantially as shown in Fig. 2. The lowerblock is provided with a series of inde pendent sheaves mounted on arigid axle or hearing common to all and is provided with a dependingring or hook, to which the ob- 5 ject to be elevated is attached.

By examining Fig. 3 of the drawings it will be seen that the chainsinstead of passing in vertical lines from the upper to the lowersheaves, pass at an angle, or, in other words, roe

' chains ride against the side walls of the groove and cause frictionsufficient to prevent the blocks, when weighted, from approaching closerthan six or eight feet.

With my invention I mount the sheaves on adjustable bearings, so thatthey can assume automatically the positions shown; or, if desirable, Ican adjust them to the position shown and lock them. With the sheavesturned so that one vertical edge of each is approximately over onesheave in the lower block and the opposite vertical edge or side overthe next sheave on the lower block the chains in passing from the upperto the lower sheaves are in vertical planes, and hence there is nofriction against the sides of the sheaves, no tendency whatever for thechains to ride oh. the sheaves, and no opposition whatever to the blocksbeing drawn up into contact.

By this improvement a gain of from six to eight feet in the lift issecured, which enables me to employ the device in places where the oldapparatus could not be used and also enables me to lower the structureon which the traveling crane moves a distance equal to the space gainedin the upward movement of the lower block.

It is evident that numerous slight changes in the construction andrelative arrangement of parts can be made without departing from thespirit of my invention. Hence I would have it understood that I do notconfine myself to the exact construction shown and described,butconsider myself atliberty to make such changes and alterations as fairlyfall within the spirit and scope of my invention. i

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a hoisting-tackle, a lower block having a series of sheaves and anupper block having a series of independent sheaves, each of the latterbeing carried by an adjustable bearing or spindle, substantially as setforth.

2. The combination, with a lower block having a series ofindependently-revoluble sheaves, of an upper block having a series ofadjustable sheaves arranged, substantially as shown, with relation toits block and to the sheaves of the lower block.

3. The combination, with a lower block having a series ofindependently-revoluble sheaves mountedon a common axis, of an upperblock havinga series of independently-adjustable sheaves,each mounted onan independent axis.

4. The combination, with a lower block having a series ofindependently-revoluble sheaves, of an upper block having a series ofsheaves mounted independent of each other, the devices supporting thesheaves being movably secured in the block, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a lower block sheaves, of an upper block, aseries of independent sheave-supporting devices, and a sheave for eachsheave-supporting device, the

said sheaves adapted to revolve on horizontal axes and the saidsheave-supporting devices having a movement on vertical axes,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscrib- 3 ing witnesses.

JOHN R. MORGAN.

Witnesses: I

THOMAS E. MORGAN, Six, FRANK E. DUSSEL.

having a series of independently-revoluble v

